MINTO – The Town of Minto is applying for a $48,000 Community Emergency Preparedness Grant (CEPG) to install a generator at the Palmerston and District Community Centre.
Council authorized staff to proceed with the grant application on Dec. 19.
The provincial CEPG program provides up to $50,000 for the purchase of critical supplies and equipment and the delivery of training and services to improve local emergency preparation and response.
A staff report states Minto Fire Chief Chris Harrow, in his role as community emergency management coordinator, and treasurer Gordon Duff consulted with Wellington County staff and other Town of Minto staff to prioritize the most appropriate items for which the town should apply.
“Our highest priority was to add a backup generator to the Palmerston community centre,” Duff told council.
“As you know, it’s identified as one of our evacuation centres in the event of an emergency, so we thought that fit the bill quite well.”
The report points out recent improvements to the community centre, including upgrades to the certified kitchen, make the facility the primary location for an evacuation centre.
The report indicates the generator purchase will not go forward without CEPG funding.
